Monthly Archives: November 2016

PLEASE MARK THE DATE for our biggest event (correction, events!) since our ‘Service of Thanksgiving and Recommitment’ for Make Poverty History in 2006! These events represent an enormous ‘coup’ for Newcastle University and our regional campaign, so please make every effort to come to one, or preferably, both of the events.

PLEASE NOTE that only liquid refreshments and biscuits will be provided for those wishing to attend both sessions.

For further information, contact Dr David Golding CBE (david.golding@ncl.ac.uk)

4th NEWCASTLE JUBILEE DEVELOPMENT LECTURE

The 4th ‘Newcastle Jubilee Development Lecture’, entitled “Ten years after the Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change: Looking Back, Looking Forward”, will be given by Lord Nicholas Stern.

The Lecture is sponsored by Newcastle University, the Anglican Diocese of Newcastle, and Jubilee Debt Campaign UK.

CHRISTIAN RESPONSES TO CLIMATE CHANGE

Professor Robert White FRS

The Lecture will be followed, at 7.30 for 7.45pm until 9.00pm in the same venue, by “Christian responses to Climate Change – Commentary & Panel Discussion”, chaired by Rt Revd Mark Tanner, Bishop of Berwick. The topic will be addressed under the following headings:

• “Responding with hope”, led by Professor Robert White FRS, Director of the Faraday Institute at St Edmunds College, University of Cambridge, and co-author of ‘Hope in an Age of Despair’;

Maria Elena Arana

• “Responding with compassion”, led by Maria Elena Arana, national Campaign Coordinator for CAFOD;

• “Responding with lifestyle-choices”, led by Jo Herbert, a young activist from Tearfund.

Jo Herbert

This event will be sponsored by the Chaplaincies of Newcastle and Northumbria Universities, with the support of the Diocese of Newcastle, CAFOD, Christian Aid, Faraday Institute, Christians in Science, John Ray Institute, BMS World Mission, Tearfund, Northern Baptist Association, URC Northern Synod, North East CALL TO ACTION and other agencies.

Posted inWhat's on|Comments Off on MARK THE DATE – Thursday 2nd February

To read earlier chapters in this long-running saga, see our posts back in July…

On 8th September 2016, Sajid Javid MP, Secretary of State for Communities & Local Government, stepped into the row over the proposed new open-cast coal mine near the beauty spot, Druridge Bay, by ‘calling in’ the application and setting up a Public Enquiry.

He could have just ‘waved through’ the County Council’s decision!

We may have had a role in this development, since we concentrated on the global significance of the issue in terms of climate change, providing vehement expressions of opposition to the mine from six leading scientists, and scores of other scientifically literate staff at Newcastle University. And climate change and renewable energy were matters highlighted by the Minister as requiring further consideration – the first time this aspect has been cited in this way!

To read these statements of opposition, submitted to the Inspector by David Golding on 9th November, 2016, click here;

To read David Golding’s own statement, submitted on 11th November, click here.

Posted inWhat's on|Comments Off on ‘Save Druridge’ – Government steps in; sets up Public Enquiry!

This moving and impressive statement to the Planning Enquiry was made by Mr John Ashton CBE, who served as Special Representative for Climate Change for three successive Foreign Secretaries in the Blair, Brown and Cameron Governments: Margaret Beckett (2006-7); David Miliband (2007-10) and William Hague (2010-12).

It is published here with permission.

The case against new opencast mining at Druridge Bay is overwhelming: indeed it is astonishing that the Highthorn proposal should have remained so long in play. If it were to go ahead it would undermine our national interest in relation to climate change and energy. It would damage the well-being and prospects of the communities into whose life it would intrude. And it would send an unwarranted message to the world that here in the northeast, we lack the vision and imagination to grasp the real opportunities in front of us, preferring instead to cling to an obsolete model of regional development that offers only an illusion of progress.

Posted inWhat's on|Comments Off on ‘Save Druridge’ – Submission by John Ashtom CBE

“For the first time in human history, we have the means to end absolute poverty throughout the world. The only question is whether or not we have the will. MAKE POVERTY HISTORY is a heroic attempt to generate the will that is essential for this most important task of the 21st Century.”
Professor Tony Campolo in a message to North East campaigners, March 2005